Ribosome profiling and single-cell RNA sequencing identify the unfolded protein response as a key regulator of pigeon lactation  

作　　者：Jing Liu San-Feng Liu Hui-Rong Mao Hong-Xia Jiang Shui-Bing Liu Xiao-Fei Xu Jin-Tao Wu Xun Liu Wen-Tao Zhang Xiao-Long Hu Biao Chen 

机构地区：[1]National Key Laboratory for Swine Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation,Ministry of Science and Technology of China,Jiangxi Agricultural University,Nanchang,Jiangxi 330045,China [2]College of Animal Science and Technology,Jiangxi Agricultural University,Nanchang,Jiangxi 330045,China [3]Poultry Institute,Jiangxi Agricultural University,Nanchang,Jiangxi 330045,China [4]Zhongshan Shiqi Pigeon Breeding Limited Company,Zhongshan,Guangdong 528400,China

出　　处：《Zoological Research》2025年第1期54-74,共21页动物学研究(英文)

基　　金：supported by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Jiangxi Province,China (JXARS-09);Science and Technology Program of Guangdong Province,China (2020B1212060060)。

摘　　要：Pigeons and certain other avian species produce a milklike secretion in their crop sacs to nourish offspring,yet the detailed processes involved are not fully elucidated.This study investigated the crop sacs of 225-day-old unpaired non-lactating male pigeons(MN)and males initiating lactation on the first day after incubation(ML).Using RNA sequencing,ribosomeprofiling,andsingle-cell transcriptome sequencing(scRNA-seq),we identified a significant up-regulation of genes associated with ribosome assembly and protein synthesis in ML compared to MN.Results from scRNA-seq analysis identified 12distinct cell types and 22 clusters,with secretory epithelial cells(SECs)exhibiting marked expression of plasma cell markers,including IGLL1 and MZB1.RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization(RNA FISH)and IgY quantification confirmed the critical role of SECs in producing endogenous IgY during lactation.We propose that fibroblast-derived BAFF signals activate SECs,mimicking B cell transformation and enhancing protein production through the unfolded protein response(UPR).These findings shed light on the cellular dynamics of pigeon milk production and contribute to a broader understanding of avian biology.

关 键 词：PIGEON Crop lactation Secretory epithelial cells Single-cell RNA sequencing Ribosome profiling Signaling pathway 

分 类 号：S836[农业科学—畜牧学]